Luo Lin, a 23-year-old man from Zigong, Sichuan Province, won 10,000 yuan (US$ 1,250) for quitting smoking.
The{{U}} (26) {{/U}}was the highest for the Sichuan section of Quit & Win, an international contest{{U}} (27) {{/U}}by the World Health Organization every two years. The aim is to encourage people to{{U}} (28) {{/U}}smoking. Nearly 100 countries and regions have{{U}} (29) {{/U}}in the contest.
"It's a surprise that quitting smoking can be rewarded. I must show my{{U}} (30) {{/U}}to my parents, who have kept encouraging me to kick the habit," Luo said.
According to Huang Ying, head of the health education department of the Disease{{U}} (31) {{/U}}and Control Center of Sichuan Province, 2,194 people were{{U}} (32) {{/U}}for the contest. The oldest was 91.
Some had a smoking history of 65 years or smoked up to 80{{U}} (33) {{/U}}a day.
"The most difficult part about giving up smoking was in the first 10 days{{U}} (34) {{/U}}said Luo, who works with the People's Hospital of Zigong.
Another winner, Wu Jin, said: "It is hard to quit smoking. As an office worker, I would smoke to freshen myself after night shifts.{{U}} (35) {{/U}}.But now things are much better."
Wu, from the provincial capital Chengdu, also said, "{{U}} (36) {{/U}}."